Bold Predictions for Week 12
Jameis Winston
Bucs Wire – USA Today
Winston is back! Again! It must be tough to be a Bucs fan. This is one of the most high-powered passing offenses in the league and they are led by two mediocre QB’s. Winston has more potential to be great than Fitzpatrick so Tampa Bay is making the right call this week against a middle of the pack SF defense. This game though is do or die for Jameis, possibly for his career. As long as he limits the turnovers, he’ll be a fantasy gem this week with weapons like Mike Evans, Adam Humphries, Cameron Brate and Chris Godwin. I’m starting him this week if that reassures your decision on him.
Lamar Jackson
Nick Wass / AP
Let’s start with this: 27 rushes 117 yards. My first question to Lamar in postgame would’ve been “Do you think you’re a RB?” In all seriousness, this is the direction the NFL is heading…mobile QBs. Lamar may not be the most accurate but he does bring a spark to his fantasy value with how much he runs the football. I think this week he could even be the leading rusher! He’ll take on the Raiders who give up the second-most rush yards and it helps that they are one of the leagues worst defenses as a whole.
Start or Sit
- Sony Michel – Start…the Jets have one of the worst run defenses in the league (22) and they gave up 212 yards to the Bills last week! Michel is a must-start RB2 this week and will look to bounce back in this great matchup.
- Marlon Mack – Start…another RB with a great matchup. This time Miami who’s even worse against the run at (30) in the league. Mack struggled to produce fantasy-wise two weeks ago against the Jags and that’s been his worst week since coming back from injury. To add, that week he could’ve been a TD monster if two of his 20+ yard runs wouldn’t have been stopped inside the 5 yard line.
- Evan Engram – Sit…even though the Eagles gave up more than 200+ through the air last week, they still give up the second fewest fantasy points to TE this year. Plus, that 200+ was also to one of the best QB’s and offenses in the NFL this year (Saints) where the Giants are 23rd in the NFL in total offense. Engram will be non-existent in this game.
- Every Miami RB – Sit…who knows who to play right now…4 of the last 6 games it’s been all Kenyan Drake. Now, in the last 2 games, it’s been all Frank Gore. Avoid this backfield!
- Blake Bortles – Start…I can’t believe I’m saying this but I like Bortles this week. Scold me all you want, I completely understand Buffalo has a top-ranked pass defense but they still suck. If you have a QB on a bye, like Mahomes or Goff, sneak Bortles into your lineup and you won’t be disappointed.
- Demaryius Thomas – Start…Man has Thomas been a bust since being traded to the Texans. He had 1 target last game and no catches but he’s in a great matchup this week against a Titans defense that was completely exploited by the Colts pass game.
- Eric Ebron – Sit…after being shut down by the Titans last week that inclines me to sit Ebron this week. Jack Doyle has been targeted 14 more times than Ebron who’s more of a TD or bust TE as well.
- Alex Collins – Sit…after being benched to Gus Edwards avoid Collins this week. I honestly don’t understand what the Ravens saw in him all year. He’s really not that good of a runner. He had one good carry last game which resulted in a TD and it was more good blocking than run skill. Edwards ran with some heart after replacing the starter and he’ll get the start this week as well.
Watching the Waiver
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- Jonnu Smith – TEN TE – he’s a must add in deep leagues especially because he has hauled in 2 TDs in the past 3 games. Last week was his only game without a TD but he made 6 catches on 8 targets which triples his production from previous weeks. It seems like he’s filling the role of Delanie Walker very well after the bye week.
- Cameron Brate – TB TE – he’s probably the most added TE this week with the naming of Winston as the starting QB. Brate is a TD machine when Jameis is under center, where on the contrary it’s been all O.J. Howard with Fitzpatrick as QB. Now with Howard out for the season, Brate will be able to regain his role as a TE1 the rest of the year.
- Gus Edwards – BAL RB – who is Gus Edwards? Let me tell you. He’s the guy that broke out for 115 yards and a TD last week. It looks like Harbaugh likes his “hungry” attitude and that’s exactly what the Ravens need right now battling for a playoff spot. Edwards reminds me of a better Buck Allen. The undrafted FA out of Rutgers could be the future of this backfield.
Week 12 Picks
Turkey Day was good to me! 3-0 and my Chicago Bears won with a back-up QB who made his first NFL start since 2014. Here is the lookahead for this weekend…
More next week…Good Luck!
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Twitter: @AndrewLilRogers
